Riding the Rails across New Zealand

Bi-annually, Tour Time arrange a Steam Train journey of epic proportions. Bringing together rail enthusiasts from around the world, we “puff and chuff” from the top of New Zealand to the south.

This overland journey across the two islands, entirely by train, is unlike anything that has graced New Zealand’s tracks before. From travelling across the most easterly train track in the world, to traversing the world-famous TranzAlpine, and the feat of engineering that is the Taieri Gorge; it’s a trainspotter’s dream come true!

Nostalgia and excitement is paramount. Many of the train spotters have their little notebooks and takes notes all the way.

The scenic car at the rear of the train is always a favourite for passengers as the panoramic windows give an awesome view – mind you the view from any of the windows is amazing as we chug along. Many of the passengers elect to ride in the touring coaches that travel alongside the train wherever possible, so they then get awesome photo spots near bridges, viaducts and in places in readiness for when the train comes out of a tunnel etc. Because our Tour Time Director, “Ronnie” who also owned and drove the tour coaches which travelled with the train was a former steam train driver, he was in a position to know where the best photograph spots would be and we would hurry to get all the photographers set up ready for when the train arrived at these spots. What fabulous photographs many took.

A bonus that all our clients loved when on our Mainline Steam tours, was that all luggage was transported on the coaches so that when the passengers arrived at the station for our overnight stops, the coaches would have gone on a little ahead of the train and delivered all the luggage to the Hotel before going back to the station to pick up the passengers. On arrival at the station the passengers then boarded the coaches and as they did so they were each handed their Hotel room key. This means that once we arrived at the Hotel they all went straight up to their rooms and their luggage had already been delivered to their rooms. This never seemed to amaze people, even many from overseas who came back time and time again and who also were seasoned steam train “fanatics” who had been on many trips around the world on steam trains.

All passengers at some time during the tour were invited by the train management to come up into the engine and watch how it all worked. What an opportunity which was certainly relished and enjoyed by so many!

Mainline Steam’s dining car was always full of yummy food, even the time when we had the Taieri many train carriages and another engine hooked onto our train and needed the Taieri train dining car hooked onto ours as well. It all worked perfectly and no-one went hungry.

We also noticed that many school classes were lined up beside the rail tracks in preparation for the steam train to chugg by. At several of the stations the elderly stationmaster was all dressed in his old conductor’s uniform and hat. Some locals also dressed up in their olden clothes and came to meet the train. Nostalgia aplenty and so much fun!

Feeling inspired? These stories could become your very own experiences – contact us and let’s create some magical memories, together.